MedFlix: Film and the Medical Humanities

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

2012-01-07T09:57:00.000-08:00

This is an important film that has the potential to change lives. It may "push" the Reboot program; but that is not a deal breaker. This holistic approach may save some people a life of disability and heartache. It may also help some patients who are not obese. FSND follows two men with chronic urticaria, but this diet may also be applicable to persons with hidradenitis, psoriasis, arthritis and a host of other disorders. It's unlikely that research will be done since the raw food diet is cheap compared to medications and surgery.

From NetFlix: This documentary "focuses on two men whose bodies have been trashed by steroids, obesity and illness, this documentary chronicles the rigorous healing path -- including a two-month diet of fruits and vegetables -- that both attempt in a bid to rescue their health"

Someday Melissa (2011)

2011-12-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Story of an Eating Disorder, Loss and Hope.

About: “Someday Melissa” is a documentary inspired by Melissa’s journal writings and designed to raise awareness of this insidious disease. Throughout her life, even in her darkest moments, Melissa’s creativity shined through. It was always hard for her to express her feelings verbally so she used film making, writing, drawing and acting as means of self-expression.

Website. NY Times article.

I have not seen this film yet -- will add a paragraph after I have.

The Savages (2007)

2011-12-02T02:13:00.000-08:00

Carrying the scars of an abusive childhood, Savage siblings Wendy (Laura Linney, in an Oscar-nominated role) and Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) -- a long-aspiring playwright and a drama professor, respectively -- now face the challenge of caring for their ailing father (Philip Bosco). Written and directed by Tamara Jenkins, this insightful indie drama explores the depth of one family's emotional disconnect. 2007 113 minutes

NY Times Review.

This is a brilliant film. Sometimes, a tough film to watch; but definitely worth it.

50/50 (2011)

2011-11-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia has a good write up about 50/50. IMHO, it is kind of a spoiler. This is a delightful film about a young man's journey with a rare cancer (malignant schwanoma). While it is not particularly deep, it is moving and one relates to the characters. Strongly recommended. 2011, 100 minutes. Trailer

Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)

2011-10-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: "Laura (Julia Roberts) discovers that, in private, her handsome husband (Patrick Bergin) is an enraged psychotic who takes out his frustrations on her with his fists. Tired of being a punching bag, Laura orchestrates her escape by faking her death. She starts over in a small Iowa town, where she meets a new beau. But her peace is quickly shattered when she discovers her husband is hot on her trail."

This is a powerful film -- a thriller and a real cliff-hanger. Not deep -- but worth seeing. 1991 97 minutes

Domestic Violence in Films

2011-10-22T02:35:00.000-07:00

The WMST-L, is is "a large, international email forum or 'list' for discussion of Women's Studies teaching, research, and program administration. Over the years, the list has amassed a large collection of files relating to these topics. Many of the files contain discussions that have taken place on WMST-L. Also included are essays, interviews, bibliographies, and other items created and made available by WMST-L participants."

WMST-L has a Domestic Violence page that is a great resource. I was surprised how many films there are.

The Bully Project (2011)

2011-10-17T03:21:00.000-07:00

This year, over 18 million American kids will be bullied, making it the most common form of violence young people in the U.S. experience. Directed by Sundance- and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, The Bully Project is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary—at its heart are those with the most at stake and whose stories each represent a different facet of this bullying crisis.
Following five kids and families over the course of a school year, the film confronts bullying's most tragic outcomes, including the stories of two families who've lost children to suicide and a mother who waits to learn the fate of her 14 --year-old daughter, incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With rare access to the Sioux City Community School District, the film also gives an intimate glimpse into school buses, classrooms, cafeterias and even principles offices, offering insight into the often-cruel world of children, as teachers, administrators and parents struggle to find answers.
While the stories examine the dire consequences of bullying, they also give testimony to the courage and strength of the victims of bullying and seek to inspire real changes in the way we deal with bullying as parents, teachers, children, and in society as a whole. Through the power of these stories, The Bully Project aims to be a catalyst for change and to turn the tide on an epidemic of violence that has touched every community in the United States—and far beyond. Information about The Bully Project.

Living in Emergency (2008)

2011-07-23T05:27:00.001-07:00

Stories of Doctors Without Borders
This is an important, serious, inspirational documentary about Doctors Without Borders (Medicin Sans Frontiere).
From NetFlix: "American surgeon Tom Krueger and Australian doctor Davinder Gill -- two newcomers to the human rights organization Doctors Without Borders -- learn the difficult ropes of providing medical care under harrowing conditions. Joined by two veteran doctors, these medical heroes work, laugh, cry and argue their way through decimated urban centers, remote bush outposts and other extreme locations in this inspiring documentary (Set in Sierra Leone and Congo). 93 minutes

Orgasm Inc. (2009)

2011-07-20T02:49:00.002-07:00

This is an important documentary that comments on the way the pharmaceutical industry and (essentially greedy) physicians and scientists conspire to create disorders to enrich themselves at the expense of a gullible public.

Netflix blurb: "With humor and a wealth of research, director Liz Canner examines how drug companies promote and profit from the myth of female sexual dysfunction as they compete to produce the first FDA-approved "cure" for this condition. The provocative documentary features enlightening interviews with a passionate sex shop owner and a vintage-vibrator collector who argue that it's society -- not women's bodies -- that needs fixing" 78 minutes, 2009

Also read Wired Review.

You Don't Know Jack (2010)

2011-06-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing movie, a great introduction to the area. Here's what Netflix says: "Al Pacino stars in this Emmy-winning biopic that focuses on the life of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the controversial physician who boldly advocated the legalization of euthanasia and personally helped more than 100 terminally ill patients commit suicide. Directed by Hollywood veteran Barry Levinson, the made-for-cable drama also stars Susan Sarandon as vocal activist Janet Good and John Goodman as Kevorkian's trusted friend and supporter Neal Nicol.

The HBO biopic is based on the book “Between the Dying and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian's Life and the Battle to Legalize Euthanasia,” by Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie.

Love and Other Drugs (2010)

2011-05-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Pharmaceutical representative Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes a player in the big game of male-performance-enhancement-drug sales and, along the way, finds unexpected romance with a woman (Anne Hathaway) suffering from Parkinson's disease. Based on the real-life Jamie Reidy's memoir, Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman, this satirical look inside the culture of Big Pharm is directed by Edward Zwick. 2010 112 minutes

Fluff -- but enjoyable and interesting comments on Pharm Reps -- Side-Effects was deeper.

The Boy in the Moon (2011)

2011-05-10T03:06:00.000-07:00

by Ian Brown

From Amazon: Ian Brown’s son Walker is one of only about 300 people worldwide diagnosed with cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome—an extremely rare genetic mutation that results in unusual facial appearance, the inability to speak, and a compulsion to hit himself constantly. At age thirteen, he is mentally and developmentally between one and three years old and will need constant care for the rest of his life.

Brown travels the globe, meeting with genetic scientists and neurologists as well as parents, to solve the questions Walker’s doctors can’t answer. In his journey, he offers an insightful critique of society’s assumptions about the disabled, and he discovers a connected community of families living with this illness. As Brown gradually lets go of his self-blame and hope for a cure, he learns to accept the Walker he loves, just as he is. Honest, intelligent, and deeply moving, The Boy in the Moon explores the value of a single human life.

Kadosh (1999)

2011-05-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Living in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox quarter, Meir (Yoram Hattab) is deeply in love with his wife, Rivka (Yael Abecassis), even though they remain childless. Meir's rabbi father thinks his son should divorce Rivka because she's not fulfilling her duty as a child bearer. Meanwhile, Rivka's sister (Meital Barda) is in love with a Jewish outcast (Sami Hori), but her rabbi wants her to marry a brute (Uri Klauzner). 1999 116 minutes

DJE: Powerful and memorable.

Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

2011-05-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Devastated by their daughter's death eight years ago, Doug (James Gandolfini) and his guilt-ridden wife, Lois (Melissa Leo), lead depressing lives without much meaning. But by forming an unconventional relationship with teen call girl Mallory (Kristen Stewart), the couple begins to rediscover hope. Directed by Jake Scott, this compelling family drama also stars David Jensen, Kathy Lamkin and Lance E. Nichols. 2010 111 minutes

DJE: Fine performances. Convincing. Serious. No wonder it was not a box-office hit, but this film stays with one.

The King's Speech (2010)

2011-01-30T03:24:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: "Britain's King George VI (Colin Firth) struggles with an embarrassing stutter for years until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) in this biographical drama that chalked up multiple Oscar nods, including Best Picture. Logue's pioneering treatment and unlikely friendship give the royal leader a sense of confidence that serves him and his country well during the dark days of World War." 2010

See The Movie Slut's Review. Obviously, a "must see."

Also see review on ScreenRant.

Black Swan (2010)

2011-01-10T02:13:00.000-08:00

Black Swan was hard to watch. It is very dark and it is sometimes hard to relate to the characters who seem stereotypical. I suppose one would need to read "Dancing on my grave : an autobiography" by Gelsey Kirkland to judge. It's a "must see" but not an altogether pleasant experience.

See these two excellent reviews. The Movie Slut's is shorter and perhaps more helpful:

Manola Dargis NY Times Review: On Point, On Top, In Pain

Movie Slut Review: Black Swan: Deadly Dancing

Music Within (2007)

2011-01-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: After losing his hearing as a soldier during the Vietnam War, Richard Pimentel (Ron Livingston) returns to America, where he falls in with an unlikely circle of friends and finds a new calling as a spokesman for the disabled. His activist efforts eventually lead to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This inspiring and entertaining true story won the Audience Award at the 2007 AFI Dallas International Film Festival. 2007 93 minutes.

DJE: This is a fairly light-hearted discussion of important topics. The DVD has an interview with the protagonist, Richard Pimental, which is extraordinary (don't miss it!)

Never Let Me Go (2010)

2010-12-13T02:38:00.000-08:00

One reviewer for NetFlix wrote: "This is a brilliant film, disturbing and evocative. A great story, brilliantly translated for screen, and delivered with quiet and painstaking control. This film will stay with you for some time after." It addresses topics such as organ transplantation and medical ethics and is sadly beautiful, poignant and memorable. Not to be missed. Trailer.

The movie is closely based on the darkly moving book of the same title and was co-produced by the author, Kazuo Ishiguru

Running the Sahara (2008)

2010-12-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: America's Charlie Engle, Canada's Ray Zahab and Taiwan's Kevin Lin embark on an unprecedented quest to traverse the entire Sahara desert -- on foot. Along the way, the runners encounter the beauties and hardships that accompany modern African life. Narrated by actor Matt Damon, the heart-pumping documentary tracks the athletes on their unbelievable journey through Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Egypt. James Moll directs. (2008 102 minutes)

DJE: This inspirational documentary deals with some of the limits to human endurance; perhaps, not strictly "MedFlix" but it deserves some attention.

28 Days (2000)

2010-07-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

Newspaper columnist Gwen Cummings (Sandra Bullock) never met a drink she couldn't quaff. But when her drunken buffoonery ruins her sister's wedding -- and does some major property damage -- a judge orders her to choose between rehab and jail. Gwen won't come clean about being an alcoholic, but a few days into her month-long dry-out, she meets a fellow resident (Viggo Mortensen) who'll change her outlook on life and love. Dominic West co-stars.

DJE: While this movie is somewhat superficial, it is well-written and fairly convincing. It's entertaining and worth seeing.

A Single Man (2009)

2010-07-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

From Netflix: "This stream-of-consciousness, 1960s-era drama centers on a day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth, in an Oscar-nominated role), an English-born, Los Angeles college professor reeling from the recent death of his lover of 16 years. Fashion designer Tom Ford makes his directoral debut with this luminous film, which is based on Christopher Isherwood's novel. Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lee Pace and Nicholas Hoult co-star." 2009 100 minutes

This is a moving film about grief and loss. It is sensitively done and a "must see." The Movie Slut's review says it all. "A Single Man: Better than Brokeback."

The Dead (1987)

2010-06-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

Judith Bruder recommends this film and writes us: "The Dead is arguably James Joyce's greatest story, and the film may be John Huston's greatest achievement. (It certainly is his last, as he was dying when he made it). It is simply perfection: the cinematography, the sets, the acting (including Huston's daughter Anjelica), the remarkable adaptation done by Tony Huston, his son. If God is in the details, The Dead is surely touched by God. It is the slow accumulation of tiny details which opens out in the end to the sweep and meaning of whole lives.

The film is about death and dying, and what it means to live, really live. We come to realize that the passionate dead may remain alive in a way that some of the living breathing characters, most notably Gabriel (a tone-perfect performance by Donal McCann), are not, and perhaps never were. It is also about the inevitable fading that comes with age, even to the most passionate, like Aunt Julia, so in love with music and song.

Unlike current American determination to be young and beautiful forever, the Japanese aesthetic prizes most highly the quality of aware, ephemerality. It is precisely the fact that something will vanish that makes it both beautiful and poignant, hence the Japanese love of cherry blossoms, for instance. This is the beauty we glimpse in The Dead.

In the end, the snow softly falls, it is late at night, his wife, exhausted, sleeps, and Gabriel's murmured soliloquy ends the film: "Yes, the newspapers were right; snow was general all over Ireland....
"His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

New York Times Review by Vincent Canby from 1987.

Mask (1985)

2010-06-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

This is the real photo of Roy "Rocky" Dennis (1961 - 1978).
This extraordinary film is based on the real-life story of Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz), a teenager disfigured by craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. With the help of his mother Rusty's (Cher) love and fierce determination, Rocky overcomes pain, loneliness and prejudice. As his face becomes more and more mask-like, he ultimately becomes an inspiration to his classmates and teachers. Peter Bogdanovich directs, and Sam Elliott co-stars.
Perhaps a bit dated, this is still a touching and inspirational film.

Someday Melissa (2010)

2010-05-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

A Mother Grieves by Making a Film About Bulimia
NY Times Article.

Plot Summary from the Web: "Melissa Avrin lost her five year battle with bulimia on May 6, 2009. Her mother, Judy Avrin, has since become a crusader - her mission is to expose the incidence and insidiousness of Eating Disorders with the intent of preventing further suffering so that Melissa's death was not in vain. In Melissa's Journal there was one entry that stood out from the rest. 'Someday.... I'll eat breakfast I'll keep a job for more than 3 weeks I'll have a boyfriend for more than 10 days I'll love someone I'll travel wherever I want I'll make my family proud I'll make a movie that will change lives' And so Someday Melissa was born."

DJE: I have not seen this yet -- but once it's available I'll get a copy and add a sentence or two.

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009)

2010-05-31T06:27:00.000-07:00

Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. stars as pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson (portrayed as a child by Jaishon Fisher and as a teen by Gus Hoffman), who overcomes enormous obstacles to study medicine and save lives at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Kimberly Elise plays Carson's hardworking single mother, Sonya, who faces her own hurdles on the road to helping her son succeed in this made-for-cable drama based on Carson's memoirs. 2009, 90 minutes

Trailer.

DJE: While this movie may sound corny, I found it to be a well-executed and worth seeing. Carson is a remarkable person.

Fast Food Nation (2006)

2010-05-16T04:40:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: "Richard Linklater's fictional tale (inspired by Eric Schlosser's 2001 nonfiction book of the same name) critiques the junk-food juggernaut that's arguably responsible for America's alarming obesity rates. Greg Kinnear plays Don Henderson, a corporate exec of a national fast-food chain, who follows beef's journey from the corrals to the slaughterhouses -- and ultimately to your stomach. Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and Bruce Willis co-star. 2006

DJE: This is a memorable film (albeit disturbing) and a find companion to "Food Inc." and "Supersize Me."

Shadowlands (1993)

2010-05-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

NetFlix: "Renowned children's author C.S. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins), a solemn, middle-aged university professor, becomes romantically entwined with a lively, divorced American poet (Debra Winger) 17 years his junior in this story about the couple's ill-fated love affair. The relationship begins as a platonic friendship, but Lewis realizes his love for the woman when tragedy strikes. Richard Attenborough directs this adaptation of William Nicholson's play." 1993

Here's a thoughtful review of the movie: Shadowlands: A Review.

DJE: This is a moving film. While it may be factually inaccurate, it is still of value for its treatment of death and dying. Shadowlands is a "must-see."

Whose Life is the Anyway (1981)

2010-05-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: "Sculptor Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is paralyzed in a car accident and left unable to do anything but speak. Now, he just wants to die, but no one will allow it, including his doctor (Christine Lahti) and the hospital's chief of staff (John Cassavetes). Harrison's fight for the right to control his destiny takes him all the way to court. Bob Balaban and Kaki Hunter co-star in this moving adaptation of Brian Clark's play." 2008, 118 minutes

DJE: This was recommended by Dr. Larry Zaroff. It's a powerful and important film that discusses suicide, euthanasia, quality of life, patient-centered care, patients and physicians. It was a bit before its time and I'd never heard about it. Very un-Hollywood. Richard Dreyfus was masterful. This film takes the issues head on with little sentimentality and no pandering to the public. Great for anyone in the "healing" professions.

Greenberg (2009)

2010-04-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: At a crossroads in his life in New York, Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) takes some time to figure things out and travels to Los Angeles, where he house-sits for his brother and forges an unlikely bond with his brother's assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig). Acclaimed director Noah Baumbach's (The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding) finely observed relationship comedy also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rhys Ifans. 2010 117 minutes

The Movie Slut's review says it all. For her other reviews click "Movie Slut."
Here's what we know about Roger Greenberg.
+ He's just been released from a mental hospital.
+ He functions — sort of — on a cocktail of pills.
+ He lives in New York, but is house-sitting in Southern California.
+ His college rock band was about to sign a record deal when he backed out.
+ He doesn't know the name of his best friend's son.
+ At the moment, he's busy doing nothing except writing letters of complaint to Starbucks and American Airlines, a pet taxi and Mayor Bloomberg.
And in this eponymous movie, he's played by Ben Stiller, who's superb as a 40-year-old narcissistic, paranoid, anxiety-riven, socially inept Peter Pan.
Greenberg, the man and the movie, are both sad and funny. Movie-goers will laugh, not at him or with him — he's not laughing — but because we see something of ourselves in this lost soul, and because we know that at least some of his nuttiness is a sane reaction to an insane world.

DJE: I'm not sure of Greenberg's exact DSM diagnoses, but they include OCD, anxiety, narcissism and others. I agree with the Movie Slut" worth seeing.

Notes from the Edge

2010-04-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

From The Oncologist: At age 29, Peter Morgan, an internist-in-training who intendedto pursue a career in hematology and oncology, noted a masson his leg. Tragically, metastasis to the lungs had alreadytaken place at the time of diagnosis of a synovial sarcoma.There followed the all-too-familiar story of chemotherapy andexperimental treatments, pain, debilitation, and ultimatelydemise, and in itself this experience would move us with thesorrow of a precious life lost. What makes this particular storyso remarkable are the insights of this young physician and thestruggle for survival of a spirit that would not succumb tothe "chaos" of cancer.

The filmmaker, Ruth Yorkin Drazen, and the narrator, MatthewBroderick, have created a masterpiece. I can remember only oneother movie, "Shadowland," the story of C.S. Lewis’s marriageand the loss of his wife due to cancer, that speaks as eloquentlyto the confrontation with cancer. In that film, one is leftwith the overwhelming sorrow of the husband. The present filmgoes far beyond many of the personal narratives about cancerexperiences that one finds so often in the media, simply becauseit allows a remarkable individual to speak to us about whatwas most precious in his life. For those of us in the medicalprofession, his message is particularly meaningful: his workas a physician was at the top of his list.

DJE: This is an extraordinary documentary. It is very hard to find and hopefully, Mrs. Drazen will make it available through some organizations. Dr. David Biro introduced me to this.

At the End of the Day (1998)

2010-04-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Sue Rodriguez Story
Wendy Crewson won the Canadian Gemini award for her towering performance as the title character in this made-for-TV biopic. Terminally ill with cancer, Sue Rodriguez wants to exercise the option of ending her own life, primarily to spare her family the trouble and expense of caring for her in her final months. The story explores the effects of Sue's decision on her loved ones, particularly her grief-stricken son who is determined to talk her out of suicide. Throughout, details of Sue's pre-illness existence are filled in via the time-honored "interior monologue" technique. Based on a true story, previously chronicled in the documentary Who Owns My Life?, At the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story aired in Canada in 1998, then was unveiled October 19, 1999 on the American Lifetime cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

DJE: This was well-received and a huge legal case in B.C. and Canada. The biopic may prove difficult to find.

You Don't Know Jack (2010)

2010-04-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

This HBO docu-drama about the career of Jack Kevorkian, the physician who became notorious for assisting over 130 suicides, argues that even though many know of him, they don’t really understand him.

It was aired in April 24, 2010 (You Don't Know Jack) and should be out on DVD in a few months. The NY Times gave it a very positive review.

DJE: I will add more after I've seen YDKJ.

I Remember Me (2001)

2010-04-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Kim Snyder was a filmmaker looking forward to her next project when, one day, she was overcome by what she thought was the flu -- but later found out her disease was much more debilitating. In this touching documentary, Snyder chronicles her struggles with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, an illness that's still a mystery to many doctors. Includes interviews with other famous sufferers, including director Blake Edwards and athlete Michelle Akers. 2000 74 minutes

DJE: This is a sobering documentary. It leaves many questions unanswered, and ten years after the film's making they are still shrouded in mystery. I think this is worth watching; but it is not always easy. One thing it highlights is how few of these patients were cared for in a patient-centered manner.

Ordinary People (1980)

2010-03-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Everything is in its proper place in the Jarrett household -- except the past. Mary Tyler Moore scored an Oscar nod for her role as repressed mother Beth Jarrett, whose favorite son has died, leaving her with another (Timothy Hutton) she can barely tolerate. The film also netted four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Redford, in his directorial bow), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for young Hutton. 1980 124 minutes

DJE: This is a powerful film that addresses a death in the family and many aspects of grief. It is well-worth watching. Superb acting.

Departures (2008)

2010-03-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

NetFlix: "Freshly unemployed, young cellist Daigo (Masahiro Motoki) has an epiphany in which he realizes he's been heading down the wrong career path. Retreating to his hometown, he trains for a new professional role as a nakanshi, or one who prepares the dead for burial. Tsutomu Yamazaki provides comic relief as Daigo's eccentric mentor in director Yojiro Takita's Oscar-winning, richly detailed -- if unlikely -- drama about finding your bliss." 2008 131 minutes.

DJE: This is a charming movie that deals with respect for the dead and has some cultural overtones. It's a gem that is well worth watching. The acting is understated and memorable.

Illness as Experience (2000)

2010-02-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

This is a moving and important documentary about a patient with neurofibromatosis and his dermatologist of over 40 years, Dr. Irwin Braverman. It may be hard to obtain, however the film maker, Angelo Volandes may have copies. Volandes was a student at Yale Medical School when he produced this film. He can be reached at: Email.

The film is appropriate for medical students, residents, physicians and all other care givers. It is an unsung gem that focuses on an illness and the doctor-patient relationship.

Crazy Heart (2009)

2010-02-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

The Man takes a Drink. The Drink takes a Drink. The Drink Takes the Man is a proverb as old as time. Crazy Heart is a moving retelling of this saying.

From NetFlix: "When reporter Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal) interviews Bad Blake (Golden Globe winner Jeff Bridges) -- an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend -- they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son. But can he leave behind an existence playing in the shadow of Tommy (Colin Farrell), the upstart kid he once mentored?" 2009 115 minutes
Trailers.

Mary and Max (2009)

2010-02-10T06:23:00.000-08:00

Not released on DVD yet (2/10/10)

There has been a flurry of films about autism and Asperger's. This one is animated.

From NetFlix: Mary Dinkle, a chubby 8-year-old Australian girl, and Max Horovitz, an obese, middle-aged New Yorker with Asperger's syndrome, are a pair of unlikely pen pals in this quirky clay animation feature from writer-director Adam Elliot. Corresponding for two decades, the friends delve into a variety of topics, including sex, kleptomania, psychiatry, taxidermy and more. Toni Collette and Philip Seymour Hoffman provide the voices of Mary and Max. 2009 80 minutes

Temple Grandin

2010-02-08T02:09:00.001-08:00

This extraordinary film is a great introduction to the subject of autism. Of course, Dr. Grandin is just one autistic person; but this sensitive production is compelling, educational and superbly well-acted. I'm not sure when it will be out on DVD or available to buy -- it premiered on HBO on February 6, 2010.

HBO Site. The preview skipped a bit on my computer.

Utterly and gorgeously unsentimental, "Temple Grandin," arriving Saturday, clomps across the screen with all the wild-eyed grace of its main character, chronicling the life of a woman who not only overcame a host of physical, mental and social obstacles but actually used her autism to create a career for herself in animal husbandry. from LA Times Review.

NY Times Review by Alessandra Stanley.

Based on the book, Thinking in Pictures. .

Extraordinary Measures (2010)

2010-01-24T05:37:00.000-08:00

From Netflix: After their two young children are diagnosed with Pompe, a rare genetic disease for which conventional medicine has no cure, John (Brendan Fraser) and Aileen Crowley (Keri Russell) pin their hopes on the work of unconventional scientist Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford). Director Tom Vaughan's heartfelt drama is based on the true story of the Crowley family, as chronicled by journalist Geeta Anand in her book The Cure. 2010 105 minutes
Trailer.

Interview with Geeta Anand (author of "The Cure") about the movie. "The Cure" by Anand."

While parts of this movie are a bit corny, my overall impression was very favorable. It addresses sick children, parental anxieties, cold "scientific" researchers and greedy pharmaceutical companies. There is much here to stimulate one's interest and give pause for thought.

Adam (2009)

2010-01-16T04:24:00.000-08:00

This is a delightful film that deals with the interaction between a young man with Asperger's syndrome and a neurotypical (NT) woman. It is sensitively done and has some teachable moments.

Just out on DVD. From NetFlix: When beautiful teacher Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into a nearby apartment, strangely awkward Adam (Hugh Dancy), who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, breaks through his limited social abilities and flirts with the young woman in this moving romance. Beth responds to Adam's unusual courtship, and as they overcome the obstacles to intimacy, they learn how to face life's other challenges. Max Mayer directs, while Peter Gallagher and Amy Irving co-star. 2009 99 minutes

Trailer.

Living in Emergency (2009)

2009-12-24T03:22:00.000-08:00

Stories about Doctors without Borders, LIE, is not available for rental at this time. It looks amazing -- and I will update this entry when more information is available. The film was recommended by Marcia Powdermaker.

Sons of Lwala (2009)

2009-12-22T02:50:00.000-08:00

Marcia Powdermaker alerted us to this extraordinary documentary. Sons of Lwala is the story of Milton and Fred Ochieng’, two brothers from Kenya, whose village sent them to America to become doctors. After losing both parents to AIDS they are left with a heartbreaking task: to return home and finish the health clinic their father dreamed of starting before getting sick. Unable to raise enough money on their own, the brothers are joined by students, politicians, and a Christian rock band who launch a fund raising drive among young people across the United States. Sons of Lwala follows Milton and Fred on their incredible journey from Kenya, to Dartmouth, to Vanderbilt Medical School as they find a way, despite all odds, to open their village’s first hospital. (2009)

I bought the film from the website -- and it is well worth the $15. The story is similar to that described by Tracy Kidder in "Strength in What Remains."

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

2009-12-12T03:09:00.000-08:00

Dancing with Shiva

This is a dark engrossing film that is superbly crafted, but sometimes uncomfortable to watch.

From Netflix: "Longstanding family conflicts resurface when drama queen Kym (Anne Hathaway, in her first Oscar-nominated role), a former model who's been in and out of rehab for 10 years, returns to her parents' home just before her sister Rachel's (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding. Debra Winger co-stars as the girls' emotionally distant mother in director Jonathan Demme's critically acclaimed portrait of family angst and unrest." 2008, 1 hr 53 minutes Trailer.

A.O. Scott's NY Times Review.

Ward 6 (2009)

2009-11-27T02:36:00.000-08:00

Netflix: "This unconventional drama, which employs a nonfiction filmmaking style, chronicles the peculiar case of Dr. Ragin (Vladimir Ilyin), the head of a mental hospital who irritates his subordinates and winds up being committed as a patient in his own facility. Based on a story by famed Russian author Anton Chekhov, this fascinating faux documentary was filmed on location in a functioning mental institution." 2009 83 minutes

Variety Review:

NY Times Review 27 Nov. 2009

Note: Film opening in NY 11/27/09

Link to short story (full text).

Good Hair (2009)

2009-11-21T12:05:00.001-08:00

From the Trailer: "An exposé of comic proportions that only Chris Rock could pull off, GOOD HAIR visits beauty salons and hairstyling battles, scientific laboratories and Indian temples to explore the way hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of the black community. Director Jeff Stilson follows Chris Rock on this raucous adventure prompted by Rock’s 5-year old daughter approaching him, asking, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” Celebrities such as Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, Salt n Pepa, Eve and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughter’s question. 2009 95 minutes

DJE: Nov. 21, 2009. Good Hair is playing at our local cinema. It's funny, it's poignant, it's informative. Chris Rock does a superlative job. Dermatologists, in particular, should watch this; but almost anyone would benefit from this thorough overview of the things black women, in particular, do to their hair.

The Verdict (1982)

2009-11-21T11:11:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: "A washed-up, ambulance-chasing attorney (Paul Newman) gets a chance at redemption when his friend (Jack Warden) tosses him an open-and-shut medical malpractice case. But instead of accepting an easy cash settlement, he takes the powerful defendant to court. James Mason plays the opposing counsel, whom his legal adversary calls "The Prince of Darkness," in this courtroom drama from director Sidney Lumet. 1982 129 minutes

DJE: While this deals with a malpractice trial, there is much more to this film. It is an indictment of the medical and legal systems and an amazingly moving well-acted drama. It is worth watching, but it does not give much insight into how malpractice suits affect physicians or patients and their families. That may be the ultimate point: this is a game played out in the courtroom and The Truth is not always the deciding factor.

Killer at Large (2008)

2009-11-18T02:36:00.000-08:00

Why Obesity is Americas Greatest Threat
From NetFlix: "Obesity causes 110,000 American deaths each year and plays a role in one-third of all cancer deaths. Yet, despite ballooning concerns, little is being done on the public policy level, as this probing documentary explains. Exploring the issue from individual, political, scientific and cultural perspectives, the film features appearances by Bill Clinton, Ralph Nader, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona and others." 2008 102 minutes
Trailer.
Note: I rented this from NetFlix. It is a sobering documentary. Well-worth viewing. A great teaching tool.

The English Surgeon (2007)

2009-11-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: "Get acquainted with the work of British brain surgeon Henry Marsh, who, since his haunting first visit to a Russian hospital in the early 1990s, has been devoted to founding a quality brain surgery clinic in the former Soviet Union. Marsh cobbles together secondhand tools and used equipment from hospitals in the U.K. to treat patients in need, such as Marian, a Ukrainian man for whom Marsh is his greatest hope." 2007 94 minutes Trailer

This is an inspirational documentary that addresses surgery, health care and the human spirit. Well worth viewing. DJE

Bright Star (2009)

2009-10-12T18:47:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful production by Jane Campion based on the life and death of John Keats. How true it is, who knows? However, this is well worth seeing for the poetry and the photography. The filmography reminds me of "The Piano."

NetFlix: Critically acclaimed Australian filmmaker Jane Campion helms this drama detailing the passionate three-year romance between 19th-century Romantic poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw) -- who died tragically at age 25 -- and his great love and muse, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Much of the story was inspired by Keats's poetry and the actual love letters the pair exchanged. Thomas Sangster, Paul Schneider and Kerry Fox co-star. 2009 119 minutes

Living Proof (2008)

2009-10-12T18:37:00.001-07:00

This is a film about the development of Herceptin, a promising drug for a subset of patients with advanced breast cancer. It chronicles the difficulties in getting a drug to market. Parts are corny and simplistic; but it is not without interest.

From NetFlix: Based on a true story, this biopic follows medical researcher Dr. Dennis Slamon's (Harry Connick Jr.) tireless efforts to win FDA approval for Herceptin, now recognized as an important weapon against breast cancer. Convinced his experimental medication is the key to treating the deadly disease, he first must contend with skeptical backers, critically ill patients and the complicated trial process to prove the drug can save lives. 2008 91 minutes

Dead Poets Society (1989)

2009-10-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: "John Keating (Robin Williams) is an unconventional English teacher who lives by a simple motto: Seize the day! Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) is a prep school student who dreams of being an actor but lives in fear of his imperious father, who wants to see him matriculated into Harvard's medical school. Can Keating -- and his infectious love of poetry -- inspire Neil to reach for his dreams? The screenplay won an Oscar." 1989 129 minutes

This movie has these memorable lines:
We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.

This is a fine movie. Well acted, deep, memorable.

Gender Rebel

2009-10-03T08:03:00.001-07:00

From NetFlix: "Director Elaine Epstein's captivating documentary explores the lives of three biological females who reject the conventional concepts of gender and see themselves not as female or male, but something in between. The camera follows these individuals as they encounter challenges at every turn -- from the strain on their relationships to confrontations from communities intolerant of their way of life -- and find a way to cope with social alienation." 2008. 45 minutes

This is an introduction to the field of ambiguous gender. It is worth viewing and give some insights. Every person is unique and I am not sure generalizations are all that helpful.

Reign Over Me (2007)

2009-10-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

"Best movie ever about grief and loss(and I've seen em all)" Dr. Linda Welsh

From Netflix: "Consumed with grief after losing his family in the World Trade Center attacks, a widower (Adam Sandler) runs into his former college roommate (Don Cheadle) -- a married man with two daughters and a dental practice -- and eventually starts down the road to recovery. Mike Binder directs this thought-provoking look at friendship and post-Sept. 11 society, co-starring Liv Tyler, Donald Sutherland, Saffron Burrows and Jada Pinkett Smith." 2007, 124 minutes

The Informant! (2009)

2009-09-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

This is a strange movie, both funny and sad. It deals with corporate greed and an executive with serious mental problems; most likely bipolar illness. Matt Damon plays it brilliantly.

The reviews do not address the mental illness theme. Mark Whitacre is a complex, maddening individual and it is difficult to not get seriously annoyed by his antics. Yet, I found this film fascinating. See Trailer. (DJE)

Our favorite critic of our, "The Movie Slut" sent us these comments:
" I had a strange reaction to The Informant! For the first half, I was completely thrown off by the music, which was very slapstick and didn't seem to go with what was happening on the screen. And then there were Whitacre's internal monologues, which I thought were providing some insight into the movie but turned out to just be the ramblings thoughts of a person with ADHD. I thought the movie came together about halfway through. Damon's character reminded me of Blagojevich. They both have this twisted way of looking at the world from purely their own viewpoint and seem incapable of thinking they have badly messed-up.

Anyway, here's what the Movie Slut wrote about The Informant! (Not my exclamation point)
Much has been made of the low-rent rug perched atop Matt Damon's head in The Informant!, the new flick in which he stars as F.B.I. whistle-blower Mark Whitacre. What's a gazillion times more interesting is this question: What the freaking heck is going on inside Whitacre's head?
Is he bipolar? Does he have Attention Deficit Disorder? Is he what we used to call a liar, liar pants on fire?
Expect an amusement park whip of a movie in which you're shot in and out of the dark. If you have a high tolerance for confusion, you'll be happy waiting until the movie reveals its hand. If not, you might throw up your hands in disgust.
The Movie Slut was put off by the 1950s look of the movie, which is set in the 1990s. And then there was the music. She thinks it was working too hard — signaling the audience that, 'Hey, director Steven Soderbergh is worried you might not find this funny, hence the slapstick soundtrack.'
The Movie Slut also suggests a long, hard look at Whitacre's wife Ginger. Talk about an enabler! (This is really where the exclamation point belongs.)"

Money Driven Medicine (2009)

2009-09-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

Larry Altman alerted us to this ninety minute "documentary [which] provides the essential introduction Americans need to become knowledgeable participants in healthcare reform, now and in the years ahead. Produced by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side; Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) and based on Maggie Mahar's acclaimed book, Money Driven Medicine: The Real Reason Health Care Costs So Much, the film offers a behind-the-scenes look at how our 2.6 trillion dollar a year healthcare system went so terribly wrong and what it will take to fix it. 2009

The U.S. spends twice as much per person on healthcare as the average developed nation, fully one-sixth of our GDP - yet our outcomes, especially for chronic diseases, are very often worse. What makes us different? The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that has chosen to turn medicine into a largely unregulated, for-profit business."

“Money-Driven Medicine is one of the strongest documentaries I have seen in years and could not be more timely. The more people who see and talk about it, the more likely we are to get serious and true health care reform.” Bill Moyers. Trailer

The cartoon PIG, stands for "Pharmaceutical Company Giant" and was drawn by retired Mad Man, Gene Blasen from Borth Bennington, Vermont.

We just saw this film. It is brilliant and extraordinarily important. It should be available in a few months and will likely be shown on PBS stations. Here are my Notes on MDM.

The Horse Boy (2009)

2009-09-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Medical student, Caitlin Stiglmeier alerted us to this film which is being released this fall and winter. The movie is based on the book of the same title. From the website: "The Horse Boy does more than chronicle Rowan and his parents' journey across the vast, wild landscape of Mongolia. It delves into the strange world of autism itself, the relationship between humans and animals and between different cultures and different ways of being (autistic vs. normal, or "neuro-typical"), and the nature of healing. Audiences hear the varied theories on autism from the experts in the field, well-known researchers of autism such as Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University; Dr. Temple Grandin, recovered autist and professor of animal behavior at Colorado State University; and anthropologist and researcher Roy Richard Grinker of George Washington University. But above all, The Horse Boy tells the story of a couple that goes to the end of the earth to find a way into their son's life."

This appears to be worth waiting for.

All About Steve (2009)

2009-09-09T02:46:00.000-07:00

A Movie Slut Review

There’s something about Mary Magdalene Horowitz. Other than her name.
Is it Asperger’s syndrome? Or simply a severe case of uber-geekiness? Whatever.

In “All About Steve,” (2009 90 minutes) which stars Sandra Bullock, the Mary in question is a brainiac crossword creator, whose verbal IQ far outweighs her people skills. She doesn’t converse. She monologues. She’s a master of trivia but just doesn’t get human relationships.

Enter Steve (Bradley Cooper) and let the fun begin.

“All about Steve” is a celebration of eccentricity. It poses the question: Isn’t being “normal” grossly overrated?

Critics didn’t care for the flick. One called it “a grimly unfunny comedy.” But the Movie Slut wasn’t the only one laughing out loud at the multiplex. The movie isn’t pitch perfect but the off moments are few. And you’ve got to love the quirkiness of the crossword puzzle as metaphor for life.

Look for an excellent supporting performance by Thomas Haden Church and some unexpected cameos. No, the Movie Slut won’t give them away. Even she has her standards. And do perk up your ears for some hysterically funny musical moments. Trailer

The Movie Slut can be reached at: Email M.S.

XXY (2007)

2009-08-29T04:07:00.000-07:00

From the NY Times review: Confronting the Perils of Puberty Squared:
"How must the world appear to someone who has been treated as an exotic clinical specimen from birth? The moody, surreal "XXY" explores the world of Alex (Inés Efron), an intersex teenager — born with both male and female sex organs — navigating the treacherous emotional and hormonal rapids of uncertain gender.

The movie, directed by the Argentine filmmaker Lucía Puenzo and based on Sergio Bizzio’s short story “Cinismo,” is not a clinical case study, though months of research went into its creation. It is a somber, brooding study of Alex and her parents as they face the painful crossroads when adulthood looms. To help their child feel as normal as possible, Alex’s parents have fled Argentina to a remote seaside enclave in Uruguay." 2007 86 minutes

DJE: This is a sensitive, beautifully done movie. In many ways, it is reminiscent of the novel Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, although the latter is comedic while "XXY" is mostly dark and serious. The XXY community has taken offense with this movie since it has innacuracies, but the overall theme is not XXY per se, but the challenges of intersex individuals. In this respect, the film succeeds.

Generation Rx (2006)

2009-08-20T18:37:00.001-07:00

Synopsis:
For decades, scores of doctors, government officials, journalists, and others have extolled the benefits of psychiatric medicines for children. GENERATION RX presents "the rest of the story" and unveils how this era of unprecedented change in Western culture really occurred - and what price has been paid by our society.

International award-winning filmmaker Kevin P. Miller (Let Truth Be The Bias, The Promised Land) "delivers a jaw-dropping emotional ride," and "weaves a terrifying tale of criminal conspiracy, the mass abandonment of medical ethics, and the routine betrayal of an entire generation." By employing the expertise of internationally respected professionals from the fields of medicine, ethics, journalism, and academia, GENERATION RX investigates collusion between drug companies and their regulatory watchdogs at the FDA and focuses on the powerful stories of real families who followed the advice of their doctors - and faced devastating consequences for doing so.

Official Web Site and Trailer

This is an incredible documentary.

Boy Interrupted (2008)

2009-08-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

Geoffrey Gilmore, Sundance Festival: Boy Interrupted is a film that raises questions. It asks how a young boy can end his life at the tender age of 15. It struggles to find answers about what kind of family he had and the life he led. By its very nature, it is a naked display of its filmmaker's personal life at its most revealing and perhaps disturbing. How can a mother, we may ask, make a film about the death of her son? What defines this film as a remarkably unique and truth-telling achievement is the way it explores how filmmaking can create closure for its creators as well as its audience.

We have not seen this yet. Will add a blurb afterwe view it.

Food, Inc.

2009-08-08T04:47:00.000-07:00

You'll never look at dinner the same way after watching Food, Inc. This is a powerfully moving film that complements The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, the movie Supersize me, and Animal, Vegetable and Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (among other recent books and films).

Food, Inc. exposes America's industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers' rights. See: About Food, Inc.

This movie is well-worth watching, re:watching and studying.
A unique companion book explores the challenges raised by the film in great depth.

The Cats of Mirikitani (2006)

2009-07-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Eighty-year-old Jimmy Mirikitani survived the trauma of WWII internment camps, Hiroshima, and homelessness by creating art. But when 9/11 threatens his life on the New York City streets and a local filmmaker brings him to her home, the two embark on a journey to confront Jimmy's painful past. An intimate exploration of the lingering wounds of war and the healing powers of friendship and art, this documentary won the Audience Award at its premiere in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. 2006 74 minutes

This is a moving and sensitively done film about outsider art. It is well worth finding. Netflix has it. It is in the same vein as The Soloist.

The Visitor (2007)

2009-07-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Widowed professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins, in an Oscar-nominated role) finds himself drawn to a different rhythm when he discovers an immigrant couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira), squatting in his Manhattan flat and becomes wrapped up in their lives. Hiam Abbass co-stars as Tarek's mother, who forges an unlikely connection with Walter when Tarek is thrown into a detention center. 2007 103 minutes Official Web Site and Trailer

Wonderful film about the healing properties of music on a depressed isolated man. Well worth viewing.

Witch Hunt (2008)

2009-07-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is an important, moving and maddening documentary. It shows what can go wrong in a legal system that chooses to ignore the truth and seeks only convictions. Sadly, this happens all across America and the rest of the world. Nachman and Hardy have done a masterful job. While parts are hard to watch since the miscarriage of justice was so egregious, we all need to view Witch Hunt.

From Web Site: Executive Producer Sean Penn proudly narrates the gripping indictment of the United States justice system told through the lens of one small town. It's John Stoll's story, but it's also the story of dozens of other men and women who found themselves ensnared in a spiral of fear, ignorance and hysteria. These people are Americans, working class moms and dads, who were rounded up with little or no evidence, charged and convicted of almost unimaginable crimes. All sexual. All crimes against children. Years, sometimes decades later, they would find freedom again, but their lives and the lives of their children would be changed forever. This film shows viewers what the real crime in this case is, not molestation, but the crime of coercion. Viewers hear from the child witnesses who were forced to lie on the witness stand as they describe scary sessions with sheriff's deputies in which they were told -- not asked -- about sexual experiences that happened to them. Their coerced testimony led to dozens of convictions. Many times their own parents were the ones they put behind bars. 2008 91 minutes

Producers and Protagonist
Dana Nachman -- John Stoll --Don Hardy

The Willow Tree (2005)

2009-07-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

From NY Times Review: "The Iranian director Majid Majidi’s sad, soulful film “The Willow Tree” is his second movie to explore blindness and sight on multiple levels. Its heartbreaking 1999 forerunner, “The Color of Paradise,” focused on the desperately lonely but strangely happy existence of Mohammad, a blind 8-year-old whose widowed father reluctantly abandons him to the care of a rural carpenter, then vanishes. “The Willow Tree” examines the traumatic shocks experienced by a blind professor of literature whose eyesight is miraculously restored." Full Review. 2005 96 Minutes

Available from NetFlix.

The Burning Bed (1984)

2009-06-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

From Rotten Tomatoes: Synopsis: In 1977, after suffering years of physical abuse at the hands of her brutal husband, Mickey (Paul Le Mat), Michigan housewife Francine Hughes (Farrah Fawcett) kills him one night by setting fire to him as he sleeps. She is subsequently prosecuted. Fawcett garnered an Emmy nomination for role in this acclaimed television adaptation of a true story. 1984 137 min

DJE: This is a hard movie to find. Netflix does not have it. I am not sure it is even on DVD -- I found it in VCR format. Well worth the trouble to track down. A powerfully moving introduction to the topic of spouse abuse and domestic violence.

Goodbye Solo (2009)

2009-06-27T04:16:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: When Senegalese taxi driver Solo (Souleymane Sy Savane) picks up elderly William (Red West) in Winston-Salem, N.C., the older man hires him for another trip in two weeks. But as they continue to talk, Solo realizes that William plans to kill himself at that time. Befriending his depressed passenger, Solo tries to convince him to change his mind, and an unlikely friendship develops between the two men in this moving indie drama. 2009 91 minutes Trailer.

Director Ramin Bahrani is an Iranian-American cinematographer who grew up in North Carolina.

I saw Goodbye Solo on July 5, 2009. Drove to Albany (45 miles away) and do not regret the trip. It is a powerfully moving story that is hauntingly realistic, gritty and beautifully acted. This is not a Hollywood movie trying to be a blockbuster -- it will appeal to a different audience. Bahrani, an Iranian-American, may have been born and educated in the U.S., but his roots are in a different cinema. This film, in my opinion, is a masterpiece.

Eulogy (2004)

2009-06-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

This film was brought to our attention by Dr. Amber Wollesen of the PalliMed Arts and Humanities Blog who writes:
Eulogy is a 2004 comedy surrounding a "dysfunctional" family dealing with the death of the family patriarch. I've seen it described as a "black" or "dark" comedy. Probably fits.
The film begins with the family finding out about the death of Edmund Collins and then heading home to his funeral. Some members are upset over the death, some are upset about the inconvenient time. It is focused around the granddaughter Kate, a college freshman (and possibly the most normal person of the group) who has been asked to deliver the eulogy at her grandfather's funeral. Amongst the group of 4 children and 6 grandchildren, Kate seems to be the only one really concerned over Edmund's death. The rest of the family seems preoccupied with their old fights and issues.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, the widow, who is seemingly distraught over the death of her husband and her children feuding, attempts suicide. More than once.
During the course of the film, secrets come out about the surviving family members and about the departed. If I had to sum up the theme of the movie it would be, "We may be screwed up but in the end we're family." I'm not going to give away the end, but Kate finds a way to eulogize the grandfather who no one really ever completely knew. I like the funeral scene.
This film made me think a lot about dysfunctional families. It's not a term I use lightly. After seeing a lot of different types of families, I have begun to think that what we call "dysfunction" is often just functioning differently than the norm. What is normal anyway?

Released in 2004. 97 minutes.

DJE Comment: I saw this movie on June 24, 2009. It's certainly not a serious film about any of the subjects it is indexed under, however, it is entertaining and well-acted. Well worth viewing, but unlikely to be of value for class work or serious discussion.

In the Valley of Elah (2007)

2009-06-20T19:04:00.001-07:00

Netflix: When exemplary soldier Mike Deerfield (Jonathan Tucker) goes missing after returning from Iraq, his concerned parents, Hank (Tommy Lee Jones, in an Oscar-nominated role) -- a career officer -- and Joan (Susan Sarandon), hire crack police Detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron) to investigate. Director Paul Haggis based the script on actual events reported in Mark Boal's Playboy magazine article. 2007, 121 minutes

From Kay Steiger's Review in The American Prospect: "What’s peaking though the fairly transparent plot is the costs of sending soldiers to war -- encouraging them to torture and kill terrorists (or suspected terrorists) -- and returning them home unable to continue with normal lives. A side plot of the film has a woman ahead of Deerfield at the police station there to report her husband's (another recently returned Iraq vet) violent drowning of the family's Doberman Pincher in the bathtub in front of their son. Later in the film he is arrested for drowning his wife, who Theron's character had sent home without helping.

The movie clearly depicts post traumatic stress disorder. But what makes In the Valley of Elah portrayal valuable is that it depicts the strain of PTSD on families and communities as well." Trailer

DJE: A powerful, riveting, memorable movie. With time, it seems even more true than when it was released.

I've Loved You So Long (2008)

2009-06-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime French with English subtitles

From Netflix: "After more than a decade apart, estranged sisters Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) try to rebuild their fractured relationship. But the task is hardly easy, considering Juliette's past. She's been in jail for 15 years -- for killing someone. As she settles into small-town life with Lea's family, the locals can't help but talk. Philippe Claudel's feature film debut garnered him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film." 2008 1 hr 57 minutes.
NY Times Review . Trailer

DJE: This is a powerfully movie with many important themes. Grief, imprisonment, murder. Beautifully acted, beautifully filmed. Haunting. Perhaps the ending is a bit banal; but then, too, so is real life.

The Doctor's Dilemma (1958)

2009-06-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

by George Bernhard Shaw

NY Times Review by Bosley Crowther 1958
"As brilliant a battery of stage physicians as has probably ever been called on to apply their skills to George Bernard Shaw's "The Doctor's Dilemma" falls to with deftness and charm in the British-made film version of it, which opened yesterday at the Trans-Lux Fifty-second Street.

In this group of suave practitioners are Robert Morley, Felix Aylmer, Alastair Sim and John Robinson—all of them fellows who can play Mr. Shaw's expensive quacks with just the right shades and variations of pomposity and mockery." 1958, 99 minutes

I saw this a number of years ago and it was wonderful -- but now I can't find a copy at my local library system, on Netflix or Blockbuster. DJE

Cracked Not Broken

2009-06-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

Lisa was raised in the right part of town, she went to the right schools, had the right friends. But somewhere along the way something went terribly wrong. At age 37 Lisa is an estranged mother of one, and a Crack addict who prostitutes herself to help support her drug habit. Get a glimpse into the harsh reality and chaotic lifestyle of drug addiction. This film will force you to examine all of your stereotypes about the addicted - in a sometimes shocking way. 2007, 47 minutes

Full video available from SnagFilms.

Supersize Me (2004)

2009-06-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

"Super Size Me" is one man's journey into the world of weight gain, health problems and fast food. It's an examination of the American way of life and how we are eating ourselves to death. Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock unravels the American obesity epidemic by interviewing experts nationwide and by subjecting himself to a 'McDonald's only' diet for thirty days straight. His Sundance award-winning feature is as entertaining as it horrifying as it dives into corporate responsibility, nutritional education, school lunch programs and how we as a nation are eating ourselves to death. (from trailer page) Trailer 2004 98 minutes
If you haven't seen it, do so!!

You can watch the entire documentaty at SnagFilms!

Freedom Writers (2007)

2009-05-24T08:49:00.001-07:00

From NetFlix: "Hilary Swank stars as a young teacher who inspires her at-risk students in this moving drama based on true events. Erin Gruwell (Swank) assigns her class an ambitious project: While studying works such as The Diary of Anne Frank, the kids keep journals about their troubled lives, applying history's lessons to break the cycle of violence and despair that threatens their futures. Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton and Patrick Dempsey co-star." 2007 122 minutes Trailer

This is an inspirational movie that covers some of the same ground as Precious. It is probably easier on the audience. Until Precious is released, I won't say more. However, Freedom Writers is well worth viewing. DJE

Precious (2009)

2009-05-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo'Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.

Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of "alternative," but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

Official Site and Trailer

Precious is based on the book Pushed, by Sapphire. It's a fine, harrowing read. Available in print and audio-cassette (latter read by the author)

5/17/09: This movie is not released yet but promises to be a big hit. It tackles important issues. The toll of child abuse is terrible in that it stymies a child and creates physically and mentally handicapped individuals. The happy ending mentioned above may be the exception to the rule.

11/6/09: Precious was released to great media hype. A.O. Scott's review in the Times is worth reading.

12/20/09 Precious is playing locally and I saw it tonight. I was surprised how closely it adhered to the book. This is an extraordinary film and a very important one. It's a must see, in my opinion. Probably the best movie I've seen in 2009. It did not pander to the marketplace. Raises many uncomfortable questions. It is not just "entertainment" but opens up a discussion about child sexual abuse.

Willie: A Dream

2009-05-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Willie: A Dream, is a dramatic monologue portraying Sir William Osler (with commentary and references), by Joseph W. Lella. It is available in video format. There is also the text (with scholarly annotations) to Dr. Joseph Lella’s dramatic monologue in which he portrays salient aspects of Osler’s character and personality in the form of a dream sequence.

This is a remarkable performance: a great tribute to W.O.

Price: $25
Price for Friends of the Osler Library: $20
You can order "Willie: A Dream from the Osler library. Make sure you ask for the DVD version. 0

Martha in Lattimore

2009-05-15T02:45:00.000-07:00

Film maker Mary Dalton (pictured at left) has produced a fine tribute to Martha Lattimore, a remarkable woman who lived in an iron lung for almost 60 year. Martha in Lattimore is an important film to see. It is a tribute to the human spirit, and a cautionary tale. Polio has the potential for this kind of devastating sequelae, yet some parents today refuse to immunize their children. If you wish to purchase a copy of this film, please write to Mary Dalton.

From the web site: "The first thing you notice when meeting Martha Mason is the bright yellow iron lung that encases her body and helps her breathe just as it has since 1948 when, at age 11, she contracted polio. She has lived in this life-saving machine longer than anyone else in the world, and she has lived most of those days in Lattimore, a small town located in southwestern North Carolina.

At first the image and sound of the iron lung are distracting if not shocking, but soon after talking with Martha, the massive, metal cylinder becomes inconsequential because it is so greatly exceeded by her spirit. She says that she has survived for so many years while so many others with the same disease died because of the exceptional care she received from her parents and community and because she has always been driven to learn.

Her personal story has long inspired her friends and neighbors, but Martha has been a private person for most of her life. With the assistance of her voice-activated computer, she wrote her autobiography, Breath: Life in the Rhythm of an Iron Lung. In the months since its publication, however, Martha has heard from people the world over who found something in her story that moved them, motivated them, or otherwise resonated with their personal experiences. This film tells her story in the context of Lattimore, the little town that has nurtured Martha throughout her life."

The Shootist (1976)

2009-05-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: "An aging gunfighter (John Wayne) decides to go out with a bang after being told he's dying of cancer. In the short time he has left, the gunfighter settles some unfinished business with a gambler (Hugh O'Brian) and teaches a young friend (Ron Howard) not to follow his example. This reflective Western from director Don Siegel (Dirty Harry) was the last feature film Wayne made before losing his own battle with cancer." 1976 98 minutes

The Insider (1999)

2009-05-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

From NetFlix: "One man told the truth. Another reported the story. Both paid the price. The Insider -- a true tale about a Big Tobacco scientist (Russell Crowe) who exposed industry secrets, and the newsman (Al Pacino) who fought corporate forces that would have squelched the story -- offers a glimpse into power, media and money in America. A thought-provoking and thrilling film." 1999 157 minutes (See Trailer on NetFlix Site or at NY Times)

This is an important film that should not be missed. Strangely, the death rate from lung cancer has increased in the ten years since the film was released.

To see that nothing has changed, see "Doctor Sounds Alarm Ahead of Tobacco Vote" NY Times May 6, 2009.

Once in Afghanistan (2008)

2009-04-30T03:07:00.000-07:00

From Web Site: "We walked in on weddings, on funerals... whatever was going on and vaccinated everyone."

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers recall their experiences as female members of Afghan male vaccinator teams in the late 60s. The women vividly recall trying to convince the women to be vaccinated and their dependence on the Afghan counterparts and the people in the villages.
Their stories and photographs go behind the walls where people of completely different backgrounds could recognize one another in spite of their differences. In a world in which messages of hate travel faster than ever before, this is a message of understanding. 2008 70 minutes

Health, Money and Fear (2009)

2009-04-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Our health care system should be more about health and less about money. Instead of chaos, driven by profits, Somebody needs to be in charge of making sure we are getting the most health and the least suffering for our public health care dollars.

The system is beyond broken or sick. It's dumb. We spend more than twice as much per capita than most developed countries, the taxpayer is already paying for 60% of the total bill, and, by any measure of public health, our results are poor. Driven by technology and fear of liability, physicians order tests and treatments without regard for cost. Patients and families embrace unreasonable expectations. Drug companies successfully market expensive drugs that, at best, are marginally more effective than less expensive, older ones. As our primary care providers continue to disappear, increasing fragmentation of care, costs will rise and outcomes will worsen. Most significantly, the insurance industry adds nothing to "health" and greatly to total cost, which is increasingly a burden to our economy and threat to the financial solvency of our government.

Produced by Paul Hochfeld, this 48 minute documentary calls on some of the top U.S. experts in health care. It is well-worth viewing. Health, Money and Fear can be ordered directly from Dr. Hochfeld for a donation of $0 - 25. Well worth viewing. We sent a check for $25 (for the record)

Unnatural Causes

2009-04-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

Unnatural Causes is the acclaimed documentary series broadcast by PBS and now used by thousands of organizations around the country to tackle the root causes of the United States' alarming socioeconomic and racial inequities in health.

The four-hour series crisscrosses the nation uncovering startling new findings that suggest there is much more to our health than bad habits, health care, or unlucky genes. The social circumstances in which we are born, live, and work can actually get under our skin and disrupt our physiology as much as germs and viruses.

This documentary sounds the alarm about the extent of our glaring socioeconomic and racial inequities in health and searches for their root causes. But those causes are not what we might expect. Unnatural Causes investigates findings that are shaking up conventional understanding of what really makes us healthy or sick.

This is well-worth watching. It will open your eyes to profound problems that affect us all.

Sick Around the World (20080

2009-04-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: With the U.S. health care system needing urgent care, "Frontline" looks to other leading capitalist democracies to see how their health care systems operate and whether those systems might be a model for much-needed reform at home. But are Americans willing to accept taxation or socialized medicine? Will U.S. insurance providers undermine change? Correspondent T.R. Reid examines systems in the U.K., Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Taiwan. 2008 60 minutes.

This is in the same vein as Michael Moore's "Sicko" but it is less over the top. Very well done and worth viewing. Trailer

Doctor's Diaries (2009)

2009-04-14T18:15:00.001-07:00

DOCTORS' LIVES VIDEOS
[From the PBS web site]: So you want to be a doctor? Or maybe you already are and want to see how your experiences compare to those of others. Here, watch how seven people made the journey from med school to midlife. The videos include footage from the broadcast version of "Doctors' Diaries" as well as bonus scenes. And for more candid insights, read the accompanying in-depth interviews.—Susan K. Lewis 60 minutes Trailer

This is an incredible video from PBS. Anyone interested in medicine as a career should watch it -- especially premedical students. It gives hope, but is also ineffably sad.

As of April 2009, it is not available for rent or purchase, but will be sometime in the summer of 2009.

The Spirit of the Marathon (2007)

2009-04-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix:
Six runners from vastly different backgrounds train for the 26.2 miles of glory that comprise the famed Chicago Marathon. Along the way, filmmaker John Dunham provides an informative account at the centuries-old race. Vintage film clips and thoughtful interviews fill out this heartfelt portrait, which also includes appearances by legendary runners such as Dick Beardsley, Paula Radcliffe, Bill Rodgers, Toshihiko Seko and Grete Waitz. Go to the NetFli x entry and play the Preview. 2007 102 minutes.

This is a fine documentary with famous and unknown runners. It is very inspirational. Great for anyone who wants to fun a marathon. Deserves to be seen and seen again.

Waltz with Bashir (2008)

2009-03-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Utilizing vivid black-and-white animation in this Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Language Film, director Ari Folman documents his quest to explore the memory gaps in his life during his service for the Israeli army in the Lebanese war of the early 1980s. Recounting several story vignettes based on recorded interviews with colleagues and friends, Folman explores the horrors of war and the curious coping mechanisms that mankind uses to survive and function under brutal circumstances. 2008, 87 minutes

NY Times Review by A.O. Scott

Trailer

This is a riveting film. Sobering, dark, memorable. Destined to become a classic.

The Tic Code (1997)

2009-03-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

From NetFlix: Miles (Christopher George Marquette), a 12-year-old boy living with his mother in New York City, is inspired by the jazz scene and already displays a remarkable gift as a pianist. But he also suffers from a mild case Tourette's Syndrome, which alienates him at school. When Miles meets saxophonist Tyrone Pike (Gregory Hines), one of his idols, the two become friends and teach each other how to deal with their condition and life by playing music. 1997 90 minutes.

A fine film. Gregory Hines was great. Good stuff about Tourette's

Marathon Challenge (2007)

2009-03-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

This is an uplifting documentary. Definitely worth viewing

From NetFlix: A baker's dozen of self-professed couch potatoes are put through the wringer to become long-distance runners -- and ultimately compete in the Boston Marathon -- in this thought-provoking "Nova" special that puts a fresh twist on reality television. In addition to tracking the would-be athletes' progress over the course of a nine-month training regimen, the program also educates viewers about what's going on inside their bodies. 2007 56 minutes

Hilary and Jackie (1998)

2009-03-03T02:24:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: Emily Watson stars in this true story about Jacqueline du Pré, a famed cellist whose glamorous but turbulent life clashes and contrasts with the quiet existence of her sister, Hilary (Rachel Griffiths). The close but complicated relationship between the sisters strains to the breaking point as a result of infidelity, jealousy and, finally, illness. Based on Hilary's controversial memoir, A Genius in the Family. 1998 124 minutes

The Wrestler (2008)

2009-03-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

In its own way this is a magical film. It is corny but it really works.
From Netflix: Mickey Rourke (in a Golden Globe-winning, Oscar-nominated role) stars as retired professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who returns to the ring and tries to work his way up the circuit for a final shot at defeating his longtime rival. Along the way, he tries to reconnect with his daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood), while exploring a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei, also nominated for a Golden Globe and Oscar). 2008 105 minutes
From the "Medflix" standpoint, The Ram, has a myocardial infarct after a match and undergoes bypass surgery. This has a profound impact on his life.
Trailer.

A Midwife's Tale

2009-02-28T03:51:00.000-08:00

From PBS Web Site: "An innovative dramatic film based on the story of Martha Ballard, a midwife and mother living in the wilds of Maine during the chaotic decades following the American Revolution. In a sparsely written diary, Ballard recorded her daily struggle against poverty, disease, domestic abuse and social turmoil. Two hundred years later, her world is painstakingly recreated by a historian seeking to understand eighteenth century America through a woman's eyes." More Details. M. Ballard Wiki.

The docudrama is a dramatization of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's Pulitzer Prize winning book: "A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812"
From Library Journal: This book is a model of social history at its best. An exegesis of Ballard's diary, it recounts the life and times of this obscure Maine housewife and midwife. Using passages from the diary as a starting point for each chapter division, Ulrich, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, demonstrates how the seemingly trivial details of Ballard's daily life reflect and relate to prominent themes in the history of the early republic: the role of women in the economic life of the community, the nature of marriage and sexual relations, the scope of medical knowledge and practice. Speculating on why Ballard kept the diary as well as why her family saved it, Ulrich highlights the document's usefulness for historians.
Many copies are available on ABE Books or can be purchased from Amazon.

Super HIgh Me (2007)

2009-02-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: Determined to find out the true effects of marijuana on the human body, stand-up comedian and former Stoner of the Year Doug Benson documents his experience avoiding pot for 30 days and then consuming massive amounts of the drug for 30 days. More than just an amusing story of one man's quest to get superhigh, this documentary also examines the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana use. 2007, 90 minutes
Trailer

Recommended by Matthew Snyder

A Walk to Beautiful

2009-02-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

Obstetrical fistula "is a silent epidemic.
Nobody talks about it."

From the Trailer: "The feature-length documentary A Walk to Beautiful won Best Feature-length Documentary at the International Documentary Association Awards Ceremony on December 7th 2007. The film premiered at the San Francisco Film Festival on May 5, 2007 where it won the coveted "Audience Award". It was produced by by Engel Entertainment in New York for The Fistula Foundation. The film documents the plight of fistula sufferers and the inspiring journey of five women as they move from devastation and despair to restored health.

More information

This is an extraordinary documentary. Anyone who sees it will be moved, will be inspired.

Growing Up Fast (2003)

2009-02-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

This engrossing documentary follows six teen mothers through their last months of high school and features an introduction narrated by Jane Fonda. This film was the basis for Joanna Lipper's nationally acclaimed book, Growing Up Fast (Picador, 2003).

The film can bve purchased or gotten from one's local library (at least in Massachusetts). Trailers. For information about the book.

The Fisher King (1991)

2009-02-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

From NetFlix: Shock-jock Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) becomes racked with guilt after a listener takes Jack's tirades to heart, resulting in a bloodbath at a New York City hot spot. Jack sinks into a depression, drinking himself nearly to death and sponging off his girlfriend (Oscar-winner Mercedes Ruehl). When Jack hits bottom, he's ready to end it all. Could a dotty homeless man (Robin Williams) whose wife died in the carnage be Jack's chance for redemption? 1991, 138 minutes.

This film was recommended by Johanna Shapiro, Director, Medical
Humanities Program, UC Irvine

Beyond Belief (2006)

2009-02-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

Note: There are two films by this name! This one is by Beth Murphy.

From Beyond Belief web site: Susan Retik and Patti Quigley are two ordinary soccer moms living in the affluent suburbs of Boston until tragedy strikes. [They are both widowed on 9/11] Rather than turning inwards, grief compels these women to focus on the country where the terrorists who took their husbands' lives were trained: Afghanistan.

From the ruins of the World Trade Center to those of Kabul and back, theirs is a journey of personal strength and international reconciliation, and a testament to the vision that peace can be forged... one woman at a time. 2006, 92 minutes

Moving, powerful documentary. Worth viewing.

Smile 2005

2009-02-07T06:05:00.001-08:00

From NetFlix: Sheltered and privileged in sunny California, Katie's (Mika Boorem) perspective on life changes when she travels to China and meets Lin (Yi Ding), who hides her face because of a severe deformity. Brought together by a volunteer medical program, the young girls learn they share a birthday -- and a need to connect despite their divergent cultures. Sean Astin, Beau Bridges and Linda Hamilton co-star in this affecting coming-of-age drama. (Trailer on NetFlix link) 2005, 108 minutes

Jim Johnson of Mason Hill recommended this moving film.

Heart of the Sea

2009-02-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

"HEART OF THE SEA is a moving portrait of Rell “Kapolioka'ehukai” Sunn, who died in January 1998 of breast cancer at the age of 47. Known worldwide as a pioneer of women’s professional surfing, at home in Hawaii Rell achieved the stature of an icon—not only for her physical power, grace and luminous beauty, but for her leadership in a community that loved her as much as she loved it.

This is an extraordinary documentary that can be obtained from PBS (see below):
Videotape and DVD copies of HEART OF THE SEA are available for purchase from:
Swell Cinema
Phone: 415-826-8820
Web: http://www.swellcinema.com
Email: swellcinema@gmail.com

Dirty Filthy Love (2004)

2009-01-28T14:31:00.001-08:00

NetFlix: Michael Sheen and Shirley Henderson star in this sensitive romantic comedy about a man who struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Tourette's Syndrome. Unable to control his behavior, Mark (Michael Sheen) loses his job, his wife and his home before he finally joins a support group. Feeling less alone in the world, Mark bonds with the quirky members in his therapy sessions and begins a relationship with his group leader, Charlotte. 2004, 94 minutes Trailer

Recommended by Lorainne Brill

2/1/09 Just saw this -- impressive film -- well worth viewing. So much more to this film than the above blurb suggests.